Ballista
History
Jason
Hoisington
Phys 212
3/21/05
Phys 212
3/21/05
The ballista, or
"shield piercer," was first developed by the Greeks using the same
principles as a bow and arrow. Its primary use was to, as the
name suggests, pierce enemy shields, since normal bows lacked the power
to do so. Early versions of the ballista include the
gastrophetes, which is nothing more than an enlarged bow that can be
braced against the users body.
http://members.lycos.nl/onager/GastrophetesPic.jpg
As time went on ballistas were improved to become larger and more powerful, eventually becoming mounted mechanisms that could be operated by two or more people. The Romans eventually modified them to throw stones, making them more effective in seiges against walled towns.
As time went on ballistas were improved to become larger and more powerful, eventually becoming mounted mechanisms that could be operated by two or more people. The Romans eventually modified them to throw stones, making them more effective in seiges against walled towns.